Duke, UNC to play in ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 3

ESPN has finalized the time and network designations for the 16th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge early-season men’s basketball showdowns.

ESPN networks will combine to cover every game of the events showcasing the premier conferences during the first week of December. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will televise the 14 games of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge — including all 14 Big Ten schools and 14 of 15 ACC teams — from Monday, Dec. 1 through Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The ACC and Big Ten have split the past two events, winning six Challenge games each in 2012 and 2013. In the event of a tie, the Commissioner’s Cup remains with the conference that won the previous year, which was the Big Ten in 2011. The ACC won the first 10 Challenges (1999-2008), while the Big Ten won the next three (2009-2011).